Improvement in earth-augers



C. D. PIERCE. EARTH-AUGER.

Patented Nov. 7,1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES D. PIERCE, OF LA SALLE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN EARTH-AUGERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,019, dated November7, 1876; application filed March 31, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, CHARLES D. PIERCE, of La Salle, in the county ofLa Salle and State of Illinois, have invented an Improved Earth-Auger,of which the following is a specificationz- The object of my inventionis to construct an anger in such a manner that it can be readily andadvantageously adjusted to cut bores of various diameters and form wellsof diiferent sizes in various kinds of ground, sand, slate, coal, andall kinds of substances softer than solid rock. It consists, first, inadjustable arms carrying fixed cutters; second, in a series of removablebottoms having graduated cutters; third, in aflexible and removablebucket-bottom that is equally well adapted for use in stony ground andin sand, all as hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure 1 of my drawing is a perspective view of my auger, illustratingthe construction, application, and operation of the adjustable arms. I

A is a combined socket and hub, to which the auger-shaft B is attached,and in which the auger-arms are fixed and. moved, as desired. O O arethe auger-arms, of elbow form,

carrying the pods D and the combined movable bottoms and cutters E G.The horizontal part of the elbow-form arms may stand at any angledesired. The combined socket and hub A may be cast complete in onepiece. It has mortises or grooves corresponding in size and angle withthe arms 0, in which those arms are adjusted and locked. This casting Amay vary in size and configuration, as desired. a a are longitudinalslots in the arms C. b is a screw-bolt, passed through the slots a and atransverse hole of corresponding form through the center of the hub A.By means of a nut on the end of the bolt 12 the arms 0 are clamped andrigidly fixed to the hub. The inside of the arms may be serrated orratchet-faced, to engage a corresponding surface in the grooves ormortises in the hub in which the arms move, for the purpose of gripingand holding the arms more securely, and to distribute any strain thatmight endanger the breaking of the clamping-bolt b. a represents a rackformed on the arms 0. d is a pinion, mounted in suitable bearings formedin or attached to the hub A. This pinion may be operated by means of awrench or crank, to engage and move the armsO in opposite directionssimultaneously, and to equal distances, as required in adjusting theauger to bore holes of variousdiameters.

A scale may be formed or attached to th arms, to indicate the diameterof the bore. The pinion may be concealed and protected in a cavity fixedin the hub, or by a suitable cover attached to the hub.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, showing the relative positions of the pods Dand combinedbottoms and cutters G E, when the arms 0 are. adjusted toincrease the diameter of a bore. The No. 1 circle shows the smallestsize of bore, formed when the arms are close together and the podsconnected to form a tight bucket. No. 2 circle shows the size of thebore when the arms are spread. A bore or well of any size desired may bethus formed by adjusting the arms carrying the cutters.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, illustrating the construction of mymovable bottoms having a graduated series of cutters. G is a perforatedrim, correspondingin size and formwith the bottom of the pod or arm, towhich it is to be attached by means of screw-bolts, or in any suitableWay. E is an inclined hollowed-out base, terminating in a cutter, havingits inner corner the lowest and in advance of the center, and its outercorner farther from the cen ter than any other portion of the auger.This hollowed-out base E forms a mole-shaped and twisted passage-way forthe earth to pass upward with less friction than when the pets sage-Wayis angular. f is a vertical and curved extension on the top of theoutside corner of the cutter. By making a series of movable bottomshavin g extensions f varying and graduated in size, as indicated bybroken lines. I can use the same auger without adjusting the arms tomake bores of different diameters by simply changing the movable bottomsE G. f is a movable steel-cutting blade, conforming in shape with thecutter E f, and may readily be removed to be sharpened when worn, orreplaced by a new one.

Fig. 4 is a top-plan view, illustrating my manner of making bores ofdiiferent diameters with one and the same auger by using movaters.

ble bottoms having a graduated series of out- No. 3 circle representsthe wall of the bore made by the cutter E. No. 4 shows the increasedsize of the bore made by one of my series of enlarged and graduatedcutters, E.

Fig. 5 is a top-plan view of my movable and flexible bucket-bottom. g isa shaft, designed to rest in suitable bearin gs formed in the lower endsof the pods D or rims. G, forming a cylinder or bucket adapted forelevating sand and earth and water when necessary. 'mm are segments ofplate hinged to the opposite sides and" ends of the shaft g. n n aresegments hinged to the free edges of the hinged segments m. n n! aresegments hinged to the free sides of the segments n, making eachhalf-bottom consist of three pieces. 1* r are stops, rigidly fixed onthe top sides of the segments m to restrict the movements of the bottom.

I am aware that bucket-bottoms for angers havehad hinged sections; but Iclaim .that my manner of forming a bottom in flexible halves, each halfconsistingot' three pieces, m n n, and then hinging the two halves atthe opposite ends and on the opposite sides of the shaft 9, to allowdifferent sizes of stones and all kinds of substances to pass upward tobe retained and elevated in the bucket, is novel andgreatlyadvantageous.

I am aware that augers have been formed in halves, and hinged to anauger-shaft in such a manner that they could be spread apart to stand atvarious angles relative to each other and the auger-shaft, for thepurpose of discharging their contents and to excavate around bowlders. Iam also aware that adjustable bits and reamers have been used on angersto form bores of different diameters; but I claim that my manner offorming an anger in two parts, and combining them with an auger-shaft insuch a way that they can be spread apartand yet remain parallel to eachother, and in parallel line with the auger-shaft and the wall of thebore, for the purpose of making complete bores and wells of differentdiameters with one and the same anger, is novel and greatly ad vantageous.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an earth-auger the adjustable arms 0 O,carrying independent half-angers parallel to each other, in combinationwith an angershaft, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combined shaft-socket and hub A carrying the pinion d, incombination with the adjustable arms 0 having racks c, substan- 3. Theelbow-form arms 0 having slots a, in

combination with the clamping-bolt 11 and grooved or mortised hub A,substantially as and for the purposes shown and described.

4. A removable bottom formed in two sections, each half or sectionhaving a rim, G, and an inclined hollowed-out base terminatin g incutters standing crosswise to each other, substantially as shown anddescribed.

.5. The removable bottom sections G E, having a mole-shaped and twistedpassage-way for the elevation of earth, substantially as shown andspecified.

6. The bisected and flexible bucket-bottom man, having stops 1' whenhinged to the opposite sides and ends of the shaft g, sub stantially asandafor the purpose shown and described.

CHARLES D. PIERCE.

Witnesses:

W. O. MITCHELL, W. H. FARRALL.

